Flood operated signal device



c. M. ROBERTS 2,184,605 FLOOD OPERATED SIGNAL DEVICE Dec. 26, 1939.

Filed Nov. 5, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l gnaw boa:

C. M. ROBERTS FLOOD OPERATED SIGNAL DEVICE Filed Nov. 5, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 MAYAQQ Patented Dec. 26, 1939 FLOOD OPERATED SIGNAL DEVICE.

Claude M. Roberts, Kinsley, Kans.

Application November 5, 1938, Serial No. 239,112

'7 Claims.

This invention relates to the class of signaling and pertains particularly to an electric signal controlling device which isdesigned to be actuated by a fluid operated float.

In areas of the country where sudden floods occur, it is frequently important that some means be employed for indicating at a remote point that such a flood has taken place, as it frequently happens that a heavy rain or some other condition may cause the rapid swelling and recession of a stream or other body of water which would cause a certain amount of damage which might have serious consequences as, for example, in an area where a railway trestle or bridge crosses a normally low water area, a sudden rise of the water or flooding of the area might carry away a portion of the bridge and the water die down without anyone being aware that such a condition has occurred.

The present invention has for its primary object to provide a flood controlled switch or relay mechanism designed for use in areas where such sudden or rapid flood conditions might develop, whereby a signal may be established at a remote point indicating that a rise of water has occurred so that an investigation may be made to determine whether or not any serious consequences have resulted, and a particular feature of the present invention resides in the provision of means whereby upon the establishment of such signal, the same will be maintained until the signaling device is re-set, thus avoiding the possibility of a signal being given without being seen, and then automatically cut off upon the recession of the flood waters.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel electric signal circuit closing mechanism in which means is provided whereby a relatively light contact may be established between a movable switch arm and two oppositely disposed switch arms regardless of the degree of pressure applied to the movable switch arm when the lat ter is shifted in one dir ction or of the amount of weight carried by the switch arm by adjacent movable parts of the switch mechanism.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not to be confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in vertical section through the mechanism embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view through the upper portion of the switch housing, looking downwardly.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral I generally designates a box or housing designed to enclose a float member 2, the housing being provided in the bottom and side walls thereof with screened openings 3 by which fluid may enter the housing without carrying thereinto foreign matter which might interfere with the operation of the float. The top of the housing I is indicated by the numeral 4 and this constitutes a removable cover or door which is hingedly attached to one wall, as indicated at 5, and has a suitable lock hasp 6 connecting the opposite edge with a Wall opposite the hinges so that the cover may be securely fastened in closing position.

Connected with the cover 4 is a tubular casing or cylinder 1 which opens at its lower end through the cover and extends vertically therefrom and adjacent this cylinder upon the inner side of the cover is a bracket 8 to which is hingedly attached one end of an arm 9 which has its other end connected with the float 2. Above the float 2 there is secured to the cover 4 a stop II] which limits the upward movement of the float.

At the upper end of the tubular housing I is a switch housing indicated generally by the nu meral II, which has the bottom wall I2 hingedly secured thereto, as indicated at I3, so that this wall constitutes a closure for the switch housing while at the same time forming the bottom wall for the support of certain mechanism hereinafter described. This bottom closure wall I2 of the switch housing is likewise held in closed position by a lock hasp I4. The upper end of the vertical tubular casing l connects with and opens through the bottom closure wall I2 of the switch housing.

Within the switch housing there is supported upon the bottom closure wall I2 a plate I5, such plate being maintained in spaced relation with the bottom wall by the insulation bodies I6. The plate i5 carries adjacent each of its opposite sides, the three wire terminal posts I'I, I8 and I9,

and adjacent each of these groups of posts is a switch block 20 which consists of the upper and lower resilient switch blades 2! and Z2, respectively, which are relatively fixed and an intermediate switch blade 23 which, although it is fixed at one end, will be referred to as the movable blade for the reason that its other end extends a substantial distance beyond the opposed free ends of the upper and lower blades 25 and 22, and it is flexed upwardly and downwardly by the movements of the float 2, as hereinafter described. This intermediate or movable switch blade 23 lies between the blades ill and 22 and passes between and beyond the free ends of the latter blades to the portion of the switch housing adjacent the end where the tubular housing is connected.

The lower switch blade 22 of each switch block has disposed beneath it the spring arm 24 which normally urges its free end upwardly.

As previously stated, there are two of these switch blocks, therefore, there are two movable switch blades 23, and as these blocks are in spaced parallel relation upon the plate 15, the extended or free ends of the movable blades 23 lie in the same vertical plane transversely of the switch housing. These extended ends of the two movable switch blades are connected together by the insulation yoke bar 25 which bar extends across the axial center of the tubular casing l. The ends of the bar are secured to the movable switch blades by clamp plates 26, each of which has one end permanently joined as by welding or the like to the adjacent blade while the other end extends across the bar 25 and frictionally maintains the latter in position.

In between the movable switch blades 23, the bar 25 has suspended therefrom a U-yoke 21, the screw-threaded legs of which extend upwardly through the bar 25 and carry the spaced nuts 23 which clamp the bar between them. The central portion of this yoke 2'! lies upon the axial center of the tubular casing 1 and is provided with a suitable aperture for the extension there through of the upper end of the float operated rod 29, the rod passing downwardly through the center of the casing and having its lower end pivotally attached to the float bar 9, as indicated at 30.

The upper end of the rod 29 is screw-threaded and carries a pair of clamping nuts 31 which engage upon opposite sides of the central portion of the yoke 21, these nuts facilitating the vertical adjustment of the rod 29, with respect to the yoke.

Upon opposite sides of the tubular housing 1 there are secured to the bottom wall l2 within the housing I I, the two pins 32, each of which carries a pair of locking nuts 33. Extending transversely of the upper end of the tubular housing 1 is a flat suspension bar of resilient material which is indicated by the numeral 34, and this bar has its ends apertured to receive the pins 32, the nuts engaging upon opposite sides of the bar to support it at the desired elevation above the bottom wall l2. The transverse center of the flat supporting bar 34 is apertured for the passage of the float rod 29 and surrounding the float rod and interposed between the bar M and the lower one of the pair of nuts 3| is a helical spring 35 which forms a cushion between the bar 34 and the yoke 32.

Upon a suitable bracket 35 secured upon the bottom wall l2 within the switch housing is supported a shell 37 which has one open end directed toward the bar 25 which connects the movable switch blades 23, and slidably disposed in this shell is a latch pin 38 which has a stem 39 passing rearwardly through the opposite end of the shell and terminating in the head or button 48. Within the shell 31 and interposed between the end thereof adjacent the button 4% and pin 38, is a spring 4! which normally urges the pin toward the bar 25. This pin 33 is disposed at such an elevation that when the movable switch blades 23 are equi-distantly spaced from the ends of the two switch blades 2! and 22 between which it lies, the end of the pin 32.- will bear against the adjacent edge of the bar 25 and be held by this bar pressed back into the shell against the tension of the compressed spring ll, but should the bar 25 rise to a height where the movable blades of the switch blocks will engage the upper ones of the fixed blades 2!, the lower edge of the block will rise above the top of the pin 38 and permit the spring 4! to project the pin beneath the block so that the latter cannot move down to shift the movable blades away from the blades ill. In this manner the latch locks the switch in closed position.

Any suitable means may be provided for carrying the necessary electric wires into the switch housing as, for example, the movable bottom wall may be provided with the opening 42 for this purpose. While the switch blades of each switch block have been shown electrically connected with the terminals IT, l8 and 69. no further electrical connections are illustrated as the electrical circuit in which the present devices may be employed forms no part of the present inven tion and it would be obvious to any electrician how to connect the device in a signal circuit.

While the present signal device may be used in any situation where it may be found applicable. its primary use is in streams, rivers or similar bodies of water where there are structures which might be damaged by an excessive rise of the water level. For example, the device may be used adjacent to railroad bridges or dams and, therefore, it will be apparent that it would be necessary for the float rod housing I! to be made of considerable length as considerable space would necessarily exist between the float housing and the switch housing. Because of this extreme length of connecting rod 29 which must be employed and the consequent weight of such rod together with the weight of the other connected parts, provision is made for preventing damage being done to the lower contacts 22 by the weight of the rod and the mechanism connected therewith in the form of the cushion or buffer spring 35 interposed between the yoke 32 and the resilient suspension bar 34 upon which the spring 35 is mounted. Thus it will be seen that when the water supporting the float 2 recedes to an extreme extent, the resilient bodies 34 and 35 will support the rod and float and prevent excessive pressure being applied by the movable switch plates 23 to the fixed blades 22. This supporting action is augmented by the springs 24 engaging beneath the lower fixed switch blades.

When the device is in use and the float 2 is raised by a rise of water on which the float is resting, the upward movement of the float will be limited by the stop Ill and as soon as the float has risen sufliciently to press the movable contacts 23 into engagement with the overlying contacts 2|, in order to close the signal circuit in which the switch blocks are connected, the latch pin 38 will be projected so as to engage beneath and prevent the return of the bar 25 to its former position. By this means the established signal will be maintained until some attendant opens the switch housing and retracts the latch pin. By reason of this action, assurance is had of the attention of someone being directed to the fact as indicated by the signal, that the water in which the float lies has risen so that a proper investigation may be made to see whether or not damage has resulted.

Where the device is located in a body of water adjacent a bridge or trestle which carries a railroad track and in which the tracks form a part of a signal circuit, the device can be employed to control such circuit by the provision of an insulation body in each rail and by connecting the rail upon opposite sidesof the insulation with the lower and intermediate blades 22 and 23. Each pair of blades will be connected in this mannor with a track rail so that the two blades will form a bridging connection over the insulation of the track. The blades 22 and 23 will normally be in contacting relation so as to maintain the track circuit established. If a rise occurs in the level of the body of water in which the float is placed, the lower and intermediate or movable contact will be separated, thus opening the track circuit and establishing a danger signal and this raising of the intermediate switch blades 23 M11 lock the body 25 in raised position, where the water rise has been excessive so that the movable blades will contact the adjacent overlying blades 2| to establish an outside signal circuit in addition to opening the railroad track circuit as described. By this means it will be seen that even though the water may recede before a train passes over the bridge or trestle, the track circuit will not be again established but it will be necessary for the circuit closing device to be reset by withdrawing the pin 38 in a manner previously described.

What is claimed is:

1. In an electric circuit controlling means of the character described, a pair of switch blades disposed in vertically spaced parallel relation and having two spaced free ends, a movable switch blade attached at one end between said first blades and extending between said spaced ends for a substantial. distance beyond the latter, a float member, a rod coupling said float member with the extended end of said movable blade, said float member being designed to normally maintain a position where the movable switch blade lies between and separated from the ends of the first blades, and a normally retracted latching means which is so constructed and arranged as to automatically secure said movable blade when the latter is raised by the float into contact with the overlying one of the first-mentioned blades.

2. In a circuit controlling mechanism of the character described, a pair of switch blades dis-- posed in vertically spaced parallel relation, a movable switch blade disposed between said first blades and extending at one end beyond the ends of the first blades, a float member, a rod connected at one end with said float member, a bar secured to and extending transversely of the extended end of the movable switch blade and having the other end of said rod coupled therewith, and a latch member including a spring-pressed pin arranged with respect to said bar whereby an end of the pin will be pressed by the spring against the side of the bar when the movable switch blade is free from contact with either of the first-mentioned blades and the pin will be projected by the spring beneath the bar to secure the latter when said movable switch blade is shifted into contact with the overlying one of the first-mentioned blades.

3. In a circuit controlling mechanism of the character described, a pair of switch blades disposed in vertically spaced parallel relation, a movable switch blade disposed between said first blades and extending at one end beyond. the ends of the first blades, a float member, a rod connected at one end with said float member, a bar secured to and extending transversely of the extended end of the movable switch blade and. having the other end of said rod coupled therewith, a latch member including a spring-pressed pin arranged with respect to said bar whereby an end of the pin will be pressed by the spring against the side of the bar when the movable switch blade is free from contact with either of the first-mentioned blades and the pin will be projected by the spring beneath the bar to secure the latter when said movable switch blade is shifted into contact with the overlying one of the first-mentioned blades, and resilient buffer means connecting said float attached rod with a fixed portion of the mechanism whereby the lowering of the rod and movable switch blade beyond a predetermined point is prevented.

4. In an electric circuit controlling mechanism of the character described, a pair of switch blocks disposed in side by side relation and each including two vertically spaced parallel switch blades and a movable switch blade interposed between the two spaced blades, said movable switch blades each having an extended end portion, an insulation bar coupling the extended ends of the movable switch blades, a float disposed beneath said switch blocks', a rod coupling said float with said bar whereby vertical movement of the float will effect the shifting of the movable switch blades with respect to the adjacent pairs of blades, said switch blocks being designed for electrical connection in independent electric circuits, a spring-pressed latch memoer arranged with respect to said bar whereby the latch will be maintained retracted by the bar when the movable switch blades are free from contact with the adjacent pairs of blades and will be projected beneath the bar to maintain the same in raised position when the movable switch blades are shifted upwardly by the float into contact with the overlying ones of the adj acent pairs of blades.

5. In an electric circuit controlling mechaof the character described, a switch block including a pair of horizontally disposed spaced parallel fixed switch blades and a movable switch blade disposed between the fixed blades, a substantially U-shaped yoke member coupled with said movable blade and having an aper tured horizontal portion, a float, a rod connected at one end with said float and extending through and secured in the aperture of said yoke, resilientbar member disposed transversely of said rod below said yoke and having an opening through which the rod passes, said bar being supported at its ends, and a spring encircling the rod and interposed between and engaging at its ends with the yoke and the bar.

6. In an electric circuit controlling mecha-' disposed tubular housing, a rod connected at one end with said float and extending vertically through said tubular housing into the switch housing, a switch block in the switch housing consisting of a fixed switch blade and a movable switch blade, said movable switch blade being operatively connected with the upper end of said rod whereby vertical movement of the float will be transmitted to the movable switch blade, and

' latching means which are so constructed and arranged that upon vertical movement of the movable switch blade into contact with the fixed blade, the movable blade will be secured against reverse movement.

'7. In an electric circuit controlling mechanism of the character described, an apertured housing, a float within the housing, means pivotally coupling the float with a fixed part of the housing, a switch housing lying above the float housing and connected therewith by a vertically disposed tubular housing, a rod connected at one end with said float and extending vertically through said tubular housing into the switch housing, a pair of switch blocks disposed in the switch housing and each including a pair of vertically spaced parallel fixed blades and a movable blade interposed between and normally out of electrical contact with the fixed blades, an insulation bar connecting said movable blades, a substantially U-shaped yoke member vertically disposed with the free ends of its legs secured to the bar, the transverse portion of the yoke member between the legs being below the bar and having an aperture therethrough, a resilient bar extending transversely of said float rod and having a central aperture for the passage of the rod, said resilient bar being supported at its ends and upon opposite sides of the rod, a spring interposed between and connecting at its ends with the bar portion of said yoke and said resilient bar, and a latch member including a springpressed pin which is disposed adjacent the switch blade connecting bar and normally maintained in retracted position against the spring by the latter bar, said pin being projected for engagement beneath the switch blade connecting bar when the latter is raised into switch closing position to maintain the switches in such position.

CLAUDE M. ROBERTS. 

